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Schools Sector webinar: ENZ business plan and kōrero mai
Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) is hosting a webinar on Wednesday 18 October to present and discuss our Business Plan for the 2023/2024 Financial Year, and to hear what's on your mind as we look towards 2024.
This webinar will be hosted by ENZ Schools Lead, Mary Camp, with guest Sharon-May McCrostie, ENZ’s Director, Sector Engagement.
Date: 18 October 2023
Time: 2.30pm NZT
Register in advance here: https://enz.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_apLHhg2pSp2kJ2KRTryZGA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
If you have any questions, please contact Mary - mary.camp@enz.govt.nz
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Brazil and New Zealand united on sustainability – check out the Kōrerorero: Voice of the Oceans
Science, sustainability, and innovation were the focus of a special edition of Kōrerorero, which presented the Voice of the Oceans initiative. The online event, held in late August, showed the importance of education for building a more sustainable planet and highlighted the potential of cooperation between Brazil and Aotearoa New Zealand on issues related to the future of the planet.
Kōrerorero was produced by Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) in Brazil and featured an introduction by Bruna de Natale, ENZ’s market development manager in Brazil. It was the first time that the event was broadcast in Portuguese, with simultaneous translation into English.
New Zealand Ambassador to Brazil, His Excellency Mr Richard Prendergast formally welcomed attendees to the event.
“The ocean and its resources are under pressure due to human activities, such as overfishing and pollution,” said Richard. “New Zealand’s approach to promoting a healthy ocean and ensuring good management of its resources involves education, to reinforce decision-making based on traditional knowledge and support development,” he added.
The kōrerorero featured the CEO of Voice of the Oceans, David Schurmann, who is an alumni from Aotearoa New Zealand – he has a degree in Cinema from Auckland University of Technology and, in addition to his work at Voice of the Oceans, is a filmmaker. His film “Little Secret”, from 2017, was chosen as the Brazilian representative in the competition for one of the places in the best foreign film category at the Academy Awards. He is part of the Schurmann Family, which since 1984 has carried out maritime expeditions around the world to promote sustainability.
Currently, the sailboat Kat, from Voice of the Oceans, is sailing around the world to raise awareness about the importance of combating pollution caused by plastic in the oceans. In November the boat will arrive in Auckland, at the end of its journey around the globe. The boat was named Kat after Kat Schurmann, David's kiwi sister.
“Voice of the Oceans was created because we are eyewitnesses of what has been happening in the oceans, which is plastic pollution,”, warned David Schurmann during the Kōrerorero. “Over the last twenty years, as we've travelled around the world, we've noticed an increase in plastic waste in the seas,” he added.
David also explained the role Aotearoa New Zealand played in creating Voice of the Oceans: “Part of it all has a direct connection to New Zealand – I lived and studied there for six years, where I trained as a filmmaker in the 90s. It was during this period that I realised that the New Zealand population already had a very strong ecological awareness, and that was the seed that helped me create Voice of the Oceans”, said David.
In 2016, upon returning from a trip around the world, David and his family decided it was time to give the oceans a voice, to unite humanity around environmental protection. The objective of the initiative, according to him, is to unite people and countries in favor of practical solutions for the preservation of the seas.
Alexander Turra, professor at the Oceanographic Institute of the University of São Paulo, classified as the best in Latin America in the latest edition of the QS World Rankings, also participated as a panelist in Kōrerorero. “We need to put the sea in people's heads, hearts and souls, so that they realize that we are intrinsically connected to it,”, said Alexander. “The ocean is the foundation of what happens on the planet, so preserving the Earth starts there.”
Kōrerorero also had the contribution of New Zealand based Brazilian researcher João Souza, leader of the Moana Project, which seeks to understand the impact of climate change and extreme events on the main food sources linked to the ocean, in Aotearoa New Zealand. According to João, the project works through partnerships with the fishing industry and communities living in coastal regions, making use of their traditional knowledge.
“We have sensors on fishing nets, so every time fishermen throw that net into the sea, our sensors pick up signals. Thus, we are able to generate information about the ocean, even predicting the occurrence of extreme events. The knowledge acquired is shared with everyone involved”, explained João.
The debate was mediated by Jaqueline Gil, director of international marketing and sustainability at Embratur – Brazilian Tourist Board. There were 185 registrants before the event, which was accompanied live by 69 people, who received a certificate of participation. The Kōrerorero recording is available in Portuguese and English on the ENZ online platform.
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Around the world in five
Asia
South Korea outlines plans to host 300,000 international students - StudyTravel Network
The South Korean Government announced the Study Korean 300k Project in August, which aims to have 300,000 international students at South Korean universities by 2027 as part of its goals to secure more high-skilled workers and boost global competitiveness. A fast-track scheme to permanent residency in South Korea for international students with advanced degrees in key fields will also be established.
North America
The international education sector in Canada has expressed concerns about potential reforms, with the Housing Minister suggesting that a cap on international students should be considered while the Immigration Minister has referred to concerns about integrity in the system. This comes amid an emerging housing crisis that has been described as complex and multifaceted, and with Canada projecting to host 900,000 study permit holders by the end of 2023.
South America
Chile launches higher ed mental health plan
The University of Chile, in collaboration with multiple government entities including Chile’s Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public health, have launched a comprehensive plan to help domestic and international students take care of their mental health. The plan aims to address an “alarming rise” of students impacted by mental health problems in the return to in-person education after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Europe
German chancellor appeals to international graduates
The German Government’s Skilled Immigration Act will create new opportunities to enter Germany, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz saying that international graduates of Germany’s higher education system will help to successfully develop the country’s economy. Scholz said it was inspiring to see how many students from around the world come to Germany and wish to work there afterwards.
Africa
2022 US visas 'broke records' in India, Ghana and Nigeria
The US state department reported that it is issuing more student visas to applicants from African countries than anytime in the past six years, with more visas for students from Nigeria and Ghana being issued last year than any year in the past two decades. This comes after an estimated 92,051 African students were denied US visas between 2018-2022.
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ENZ hosts annual TEI Manaaki Scholarship workshop
For the next two days (14-15 September) participants from all eight universities and Te Pūkenga will be reviewing good practice and experiences in sessions led by speakers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), the Manaaki Scholarships team at Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ), Manaaki scholar alumni and the Skills Consulting Group.
The workshop is the first to be hosted by ENZ since it took over operational management of the scholarships programme from MFAT last November. The Manaaki Scholarships represent the New Zealand government’s single largest investment in international scholarships and have been awarded for more than 70 years.
ENZ Manaaki Scholarships Manager, Julia Moore said the programme had been designed to ensure the maximum interaction between participants and presenters.
“It is an opportunity for all parties to come together, track progress achieved since the change in management, plan ahead for the future and share experience in key areas such as admissions processes, orientation and pastoral care.”
Speaking at the opening of the workshop, ENZ Manukura – Chief Advisor Māori, Ed Tuari said the best way to honour and build on past achievement was by continuing the development of the Manaaki Scholarships as a world-class scholarship programme.
“Manaaki is about integrity, trust, reciprocity, and sincerity. It is about the way you respect a person and acknowledge who they are and where they come from that honours them and keeps your reputation and integrity intact.”
“Manaaki is not a single act of hospitality; it is a culture of care and respect.”
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NZ EdTech’s taking a diversified and leading message to the Australian digital education market
ENZ had a stand at NZTE’s pavilion with six of the eight EdTech who had expressed an interest in attending EduTech as part of an ENZ delegaton, showcasing their products alongside NZTE’s five customers. The companies in the ENZ delegation included Pacific Kids' Learning, Nutriblocks, PipiLearning, Jix Reality, PolyMath and Code Avengers and the Student Volunteer Army were also part of the wider ENZ delegation. This diverse group of technology providers from K-12 to Vocational Training and Education (VET) and Higher Education (HE) provide a range of digital education solutions including numeracy, literacy, financial literacy, STEM, programmes for neuro diverse learners, Pacific based and culturally responsive digital tools, immersive digital education experiences and health and wellbeing educational games.
PolyMath Co-Founders Sophie and Christian Silver (second and third from left) talking with attendees at their EduTech Melbourne 2023 stand.
ENZ’s participation supports Focus Area Two of the New Zealand International Education Strategy which is to ‘Build a new international education future’. In taking NZ EdTech offshore, ENZ’s goal is to show how Aotearoa New Zealand is leading in education innovation while also helping NZ EdTech companies explore and understand the export opportunity in Australia in a low-risk and low-cost way.
ENZ’s Business Development Manager | Kaiwhakawhanake Pakihi, Alana Pellow, said that having a stand on NZTE’s pavilion gave ENZ’s delegation profile and extra visibility during the Expo. This included the opportunity to promote their products, a presentation slot to pitch their products, visibility of their collateral and the opportunity to engage with expo attendees over the two days of the event.
“All six EdTechs on our stand generated a total of 80 prospective customer and partner leads, with one company signing a contract with a local university while there.
“All met with decisions makers and government education officials, explored opportunities to partner with other NZ EdTechs and refined their thinking and business planning on the opportunities presented by the Australian market. They all referenced the significant value of being ‘in market.’”
Nutriblocks Co-Founder Dr Claudia Leong and Tech Programme Developer Tim Kern presenting at EduTech Melbourne 2023.
ENZ also sponsored the NZTE networking dinner for the combined 13 EdTech businesses. Invited guests included representatives from the Victorian Department of Education and Training, Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals, Matterworks/Board Director and the NSW Department of Education. Both Education Departments set the scene for the education technology landscape in NSW and Victoria and the journey both states are on in digital adapting and adopting specifically in K-12.
ENZ also supported giving broader visibility of Aotearoa New Zealand’s expertise in digital education and secured two speaker sessions for the EduTech VET conference stream. Norie Ape, Digital Product Manager for Te Pūkenga, presented on ‘Collaborative Innovation: Transforming Vocational Education through Technology and Work Based Learning’ while Elizabeth Asbury, Director of Pipi Learning also spoke on ‘Cultural responsive and designed for neurodiversity in the Vocational Education and Training sector’. Both sessions were well attended and Norie and Elizabeth have been approached for further discussions involving contracting their EdTech services.
Norie said it was a huge privilege to spend time together connecting on our shared passion for better outcomes for our learners, employers, and our colleagues.
“We had two incredible days of meeting, learning, and collaborating in person with awesome humans using Tech 4 Good in Melbourne. Time now to recover and setup all those post conference connections to further the new relationships forged and consider how to embed new ways of collaboration in and beyond.’’
Norie Ape, Digital Product Manager for Te Pūkenga (second from left) with Code Avengers Founder, Hamish Day (far right) and Bradley Hansen (left) plus Karl de Borst (second from right) of Amazon Web Services.
At the conclusion of EduTech Melbourne 2023, Alana shared here top three takeaways from the conference.
“Firstly, nothing beats being on the ground in market, to understand the needs of educators and the opportunity that exists.
“Secondly, there is power in the collective ‘we’ when Aotearoa New Zealand turns up en masse, in market. Collaborating and having deep relationships with other NZ Inc agencies adds greater support to the sector and provides one door to our government, truly putting the customer at the centre.
“My last takeaway is how the Australian education ecosystem is embracing all that technology offers without throwing learners or indeed educators to the kerb. We could learn more from our Australian education colleagues and how they are using digital to create competitive advantage that supports their international education success alongside building their domestic market citizens ‘fit for future’ capability”, said Alana.
Next stop for NZ EdTech companies with ENZ is EduTech Asia in Singapore this November. Any NZ EdTech and Education publisher companies or education providers looking to be involved in education technology related Conferences and Expos can contact Alana Pellow on alana.pellow@enz.govt.nz
- International photo round-up
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Market Insights Sessions held for PTEs and ELS in Auckland last month
Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) invited representatives from some of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Private Training Establishments (PTEs) and English Language Schools (ELSs) to come and hear from our in-market colleagues who were in Aotearoa New Zealand in August.
Felix Ye, Senior Market Development Manager for Guangzhou held an insights session on the China market for PTEs and ELSs, Jugnu Roy, Director of Engagement East Asia and India held a session for PTEs on the India market and Javiera Visedo, Director of Engagement Latin America held a session for PTEs and ELSs on the Latin American market, specifically Chile, Colombia and Brazil.
The insights shared included key facts, policies, trends and observations about the individual markets, marketing channels and advice for student-recruiting activities, as well as opportunities and challenges for the sector.
Brijesh Sethi, Founder and Chairman of New Zealand Skills and Education Group and Co-Chairperson of Quality Tertiary Institutes said the sessions offered good insight into how ENZ can assist PTEs in marketing and opening up new markets.
“This is especially important in this tough environment for many vocational sub degree providers. The sessions were also a great opportunity to meet and hear from ENZ colleagues from these markets in person,” added Brijesh.
ENZ’s General Manager, Sector Engagement, Wendy Kerr, said that it was great to have a good turnout as these sessions are one of the ways we can engage directly and support our customers with useful information about the various markets they are targeting.
“We hope that our customers find our targeted insights useful in their own decision-making processes. With the opportunity also for open discussion throughout these sessions, they certainly are an important tool for us too in gaining a better understanding of the needs of the various PTEs and ELSs, meaning we can be more targeted in our approach to supporting them in the future.
The slide packs presented at all three market insights sessions have been shared with all PTE peak body members. If anyone has further questions, then please contact ENZ Business Development Manager, Jane Yang - jane.yang@enz.govt.nz.
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From the CE: The need to connect remains critical
Kia ora tatou,
This month I want to add some colour, and give credit, to the work New Zealand institutions and the Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) team have been undertaking offshore in the continuing drive to raise awareness of NZ education options and opportunities.
I have mentioned before how much of this activity is often ‘unseen’ from New Zealand, and yet it is pivotal to our marketing and outreach to potential students, their parents, agents, institutional and government partners. The principle focus of this effort is to engage with students, build awareness, and drive interest and enrolment in New Zealand education providers. But that is not all. These activities and events, play an important role of ensuring the sector and its institutions remain connected to key international counterparts and government agencies, lifting the profile of New Zealand as a destination for international education while building long term resilience for the sector.
Here is a quick update on some of this International activity. Images of some of these interactions are shared in our international photo gallery update here.
China: Massey University and ENZ organised a Massey University friends and alumni reception in the New Zealand Embassy in Beijing on 27 August. About 50 participants attended the event including alumni and partners of Massey University. The event was particularly timely following China being the Country of Honour at NZIEC Ki Tua earlier in the month and highlights the important linkages between government to government and institutional relationships in key markets.
India: ENZ was a gold sponsor of the IC3 Institute annual conference, held in Hyderabad on 23 - 24 August. ENZ was joined at the event by representatives of seven New Zealand universities and saw strong interest among counsellors in New Zealand as a study destination. More than 2,000 delegates attended the two-day event.
Brazil; Colombia - Latin America: Following on from strong interest shown in New Zealand at the first in person expo at the Australian Centre Expo in Sāo Paulo in August, ENZ’s Director of Engagement Latin America, Javiera Visedo, took the opportunity to reconnect with providers and stakeholders across New Zealand after attending NZIEC Ki Tua. In Auckland, she delivered a market insights session to local ELS and PTE sector representatives highlighting opportunities for growth.
Malaysia: The first instalment of the Indigenous People Talk series took place on 13 August with Dr Hazel Abraham from AUT joining Malaysian academics to discuss the importance of education and technology to empower indigenous communities in both countries.
Indonesia: Universities New Zealand signed an arrangement with LPDP (the Indonesian Endowment Fund for Education) on 2 August in Jakarta. The Arrangement was signed by Prof Neil Quigley, University of Waikato Vice Chancellor and Chair of the UNZ International Committee, and Andin Hadiyanto, President director of LPDP. New Zealand Ambassador to Indonesia, HE Kevin Burnett joined representatives of all eight New Zealand universities to witness the ceremony.
South Korea: In three short days from 31 August to 2 September, the ENZ team organised an Agent seminar, a New Zealand Education night reception and the New Zealand Education Fair. All were well attended and interest from attendees was high.
Thailand: Similarly, in a compressed week from 25 - 30 August, the ENZ Thai Team coordinated Agent seminars, the New Zealand Education Fair in Bangkok, and follow-up school visits and agent fairs in the Thai provinces of Chiang Mai, Phuket and Chonburi.
Vietnam: In the lead up to the New Zealand Education Fairs which will take place in October, the ENZ Vietnam team participated in the GSE Education Fair by hosting a ‘Study with New Zealand’ session on 9 September.
If you are interested in learning more about how your school or institution can participate in building connections with international students, contact our international team through this link.
Within New Zealand, we were delighted to welcome the first cohort of students from Ichihara City to undertake a study tour at Waimea College in Nelson from 6 - 20 August. Reinforcing the importance of the study trip, ENZ’s Lisa Futschek joined the Mayor of Ichihara in Wellington to discuss further strengthening of the Education Cooperation Arrangement with Ichihara City that was originally signed in 2020.
Our sector engagement team continued its briefings of key sub-sector peak bodies to outline the ENZ Annual Plan and how it impacts their sector. This included briefings for the SEIBA Board, QTI and ITENZ, and English New Zealand. This followed briefings early in August with international directors of New Zealand universities and Te Pūkenga. Feedback from the bodies was appreciative of the explanation and sharing of the plan, with questions raised at the briefings a key part of the transparent and helpful feedback we received.
The urgency for the international education sector to address challenges and opportunities of the future continued on from the NZIEC Ki Tua conference in mid-August through to the recent ITENZ conference held in Christchurch on 12 and 13 September. The PTE sector has faced some of the most challenging conditions in recent times, but the determination of those attending to identify and take opportunities to regain their previous strength was impressive and bodes well for the sector’s path to a brighter future.
On the marketing front, visits to the Study with New Zealand (SWNZ) website continued to perform well with the total number of active sessions lifting nine percent to 125,203 during August. Of particular interest was the strong interest from Thailand which overtook India in August as the main source of interest with a spike in activity before and during the Education Fair in Bangkok. As we move through the year, other markets are also expected to show lifts in activity associated with local market fairs and promotion.
This week also saw ENZ host the first Tertiary Education Institution Manaaki Scholarship workshop in Auckland since ENZ took over the management of the scholarships programme last November. The workshop was attended by all eight universities and Te Pūkenga, with support and involvement from MFAT, Manaaki alumni and Skills Consulting Group. The scholarships not only benefit the students, but also the sector who gain access to many international students through this unique programme.
As I look back on this month’s review it is obvious to me that to continue the rebuild of the international education sector for New Zealand the need to connect remains a critical part of the recovery. Whether it is happening in other countries or here in New Zealand, it is important to remember we are a ‘people’ business – we need to get out there and connect. Safe connecting.
He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata! He tangata! He tangata!
What is the most important thing in the world?
It is people! It is people! It is people!
Ngā mihi,
Grant
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Dr Linda Sissons appointed as Acting Chief Executive
Many of our international education community in New Zealand will know Dr Sissons from her two-terms on the ENZ Board and more recently in her role as Advisor to Grant, supporting the strategy development work. Dr Sissons has considerable experience in the tertiary and vocational education sector and her understanding of the opportunities and challenges ahead means she is well placed to step in at the current time. She has served as Chief Executive for UCOL, WelTec and Primary ITO and recently completed two terms as Chair of the Board of Governors of Commonwealth of Learning, an intergovernmental agency delivering technology-mediated learning for sustainable development throughout the Commonwealth.
Dr Sissons and Grant will work together between now and mid-November to ensure a smooth transition.
The Board is working on the process to recruit a permanent Chief Executive and aims to be advertising this role in the market by the end of October.
The Board would like to take this opportunity again to acknowledge Grant’s long and dedicated service to Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao and the international education sector.
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‘Apply four months in advance of travel’ - INZ Update
Visa processing update
As at 7 October 2023, the average processing timeframe for an international student visa application submitted from outside of New Zealand is six weeks (29 working days). This is counted from the time the student submits their application, until the time the visa is declined, or the visa granted. Whilst the average processing time is six weeks, Immigration New Zealand continues to strongly recommend that students apply for their visas around four months ahead of their intended travel date, especially as we are entering the main student processing peak combined with summer, which sees high numbers of visitor visas. We cannot prioritise processing for late applications and are unable to prioritise based on travel bookings. Students should not finalise travel plans until they have their visa granted.
The approval rate for offshore student visa applications received (1 Aug 2022 – 7 Oct 2023) is 84%
Tertiary student in-study work rights
Tertiary students’ in-study work rights have typically been linked to whether the qualification being studied gains points under the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC). As of 9 October 2023, only qualifications at Bachelor’s degree Level 7 or above qualify for points.
To maintain work rights for tertiary students, references to the SMC in the in-study work instructions have been removed. Eligible qualifications, programme level and type will be shown instead, to carry over the eligibility of many students studying below a Bachelor degree.
Since 9 October, all students studying a full-time programme that directly results in a New Zealand qualification at Level 4 or above on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF) are eligible for in-study work rights of 20 hours per week. Training schemes and micro-credentials are not qualifications and remain ineligible for in-study work rights.
